Exploring CBT therapists’ experience of feeling of safety within self-practice/self-reflection: an interpretative phenomenological analysis: An interpretative phenomenological analysis

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p>Self-practice/self-reflection (SP/SR) is an experiential training strategy implemented to develop the skills of CBT therapists through the self-application of CBT techniques and subsequent reflection on the experience in relation to clinical practice. Outcome studies report significant personal and professional benefits from SP/SR but engagement studies suggest that CBT therapists’ experience is mixed. In order to inform the design and implementation of SP/SR within CBT, this study aims to explore CBT therapists’ experience of feeling of safety (FOS) within SP/SR. FOS has been identified as an important engagement factor. Three CBT therapists were interviewed using semi-structured interviews. The data, which took the form of verbatim transcripts, were subjected to interpretative phenomenological analysis. Four superordinate themes relating to participants’ experience of FOS within SP/SR emerged: FOS and its absence as embodied and non-verbal, role of the instructor, awareness of others and venturing beyond safety. Ensuing recommendations for instructors include proactive use of interventions within SP/SR which directly impact embodied FOS, monitoring the wellbeing and engagement of participants through awareness of physical cues and employment of measures designed to promote a sense of equality among group members. Areas of future research include exploration of factors which influence FOS, investigation of the effect on FOS of pre-existing relationships within the SP/SR group and review of interventions which are currently used by SP/SR instructors to promote FOS.</jats:p> <jats:sec id="S1754470X21000283_as1"> <jats:title>Key learning aims</jats:title> <jats:p> <jats:list list-type="number"> <jats:list-item> <jats:label>(1)</jats:label> <jats:p>To explore the lived experience of FOS within SP/SR as experienced by CBT therapists.</jats:p> </jats:list-item> <jats:list-item> <jats:label>(2)</jats:label> <jats:p>To identify factors which influence CBT therapists’ experience of FOS within SP/SR.</jats:p> </jats:list-item> <jats:list-item> <jats:label>(3)</jats:label> <jats:p>To identify practical recommendations for use in SP/SR instruction which will promote participants’ FOS.</jats:p> </jats:list-item> </jats:list> </jats:p> </jats:sec>